Tag: Kashmir

Zojila Pass

Zojila Pass Reopens On Trial Basis

By LokMarg

After a month’s closure, the Zojila Pass, which connects Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh, was reopened for vehicular movement on a trial basis on Wednesday.

One of the highest and most dangerous motorable passes in the world, the Zojila opened on a trial basis after a snow clearance operation was conducted on the stretch, enabling the movement of traffic.

However, 4×4 vehicles were permitted while 37 light motor vehicles were allowed to ply through the stretch, the Border Road Organisation (BRO) stated in an official release.

On Tuesday, SDM Drass, Vishal Atri, along with SHO Drass, SW Namgyal, under the directive of higher authorities, conducted a ground survey of the Zojila axis to assess the road conditions.

It is anticipated that the reopening of the Zojila Pass will facilitate the arrival of essential commodities in the region.

The move is seen as one facilitating locals in the ongoing holy month of Ramazan.

Notably, the Zojila Pass had been closed since February 18, due to heavy snowfall.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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leader Sayed Mohammad Rafiq Shah BJP.

Former National Conference Leader Rafiq Shah Joins BJP

By LokMarg

National Conference leader and former Member of Legislative Council of Jammu and Kashmir, Sayed Mohammad Rafiq Shah, on Friday joined the BJP.

Shah was welcomed into the party by state BJP President Ravinder Raina.

Earlier this month, former Minister Mushtaq Bukhari joined the BJP at its headquarters in Jammu.

Incidentally, several prominent leaders of the National Conference, including Kathua district president Sanjeev Khajuria, had joined the BJP. Many supporters and district officeholders also made the switch from the National Conference to the BJP last month.

Earlier, Farooq Abdullah announced that his party will contest the upcoming parliamentary elections alone, a decision that is seen as another setback for the opposition INDIA bloc.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on seat sharing, the National Conference chief said, “As far as seat sharing is concerned, National Conference will contest alone and there’s no doubt about it.” (ANI)

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Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes Order 1956

LS Takes Up Bills To Include ‘Valmiki’ In List Of SCs In J-K, Expand List Of ST

By LokMarg

Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up a bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes Order, 1956 for including ‘Valmiki’ in the list of SCs in the union territory.

The Lok Sabha also took up a bill to include the communities of “Gadda Brahmin”, “Koli”, “Paddari Tribe” and “Pahari Ethnic Group” in the list of Scheduled Tribes in respect of Jammu and Kashmir.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar moved the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order Bill 2023 bill for consideration and passage in the House. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda moved the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the House.

Officials said that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has recommended for inclusion of the Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Bhangi, Balmiki, Mehtar at serial number 5 in the list of Scheduled Castes of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 proposes to amend the Schedule of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order, 1956 for inclusion of ‘Valmiki’.

The officials said that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has requested for inclusion of the “Gadda Brahmin”, “Koli”, “Paddari Tribe” communities and “Pahari Ethnic Group” in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 proposes to amend the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1989. (ANI)

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Kashmir Valley cold

Kashmir: Mercury Dips Several Notches Below Freezing Point

By LokMarg

Kashmir Valley witnessed a bone-chilling first day of the New Year as the minimum temperature dropped several degrees below freezing point in many areas on Monday.

The minimum temperature in the summer capital of Srinagar dropped to minus 5.2 degrees Celsius in the morning, a weather official said.

As Kashmir grapples with the extreme cold, the impact on daily life and infrastructure is palpable.

The freezing temperatures have made daily activities a challenge for residents.

“The temperature in Jammu and Kashmir was minus 5.4 at night. Wherever we pour water it freezes. People are coming in large numbers to enjoy the weather. Yesterday, there was a big celebration in front of Lal Chowk. We pray that if there is snowfall then the cold will subside a little because our children and elders have fallen ill,” a local in Srinagar told ANI.

Dal Lake and other water bodies which attract tourists and locals for rides have frozen.

Fog has made visibility extremely poor on the road during the morning

However, tourists are enjoying the weather.

“We reached here only last night. In the morning we see that a thin layer of snow has accumulated. The way the weather is, we think we will enjoy it a lot,” a tourist from Jaipur said.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted the same weather for the Union Territory for the whole week with minimum temperature likely to hover between minus 1 and 8 degrees Celsius. (ANI)

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If War Breaks Out With Pak Or China, Kashmir Will Be Affected: Farooq

By LokMarg

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has once again warned that the situation in Kashmir could become like that of Gaza if a solution is not found through dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Speaking to reporters here the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said that if a war takes place between India and Pakistan or China, the Kashmir region will be affected.

“There can be a situation in Kashmir (like that in Gaza) if India and Pakistan do not go for dialogue… On one side we have Pakistan and on the other there’s China. If a war breaks out, the people of Kashmir will be affected I believe what (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee said: ‘you can change your friends but not your neighbours’. Even our PM says this is not the time to fight. So, I hope the time of talks begins now,” the NC chief said while responding to a media query about India’s relations with its neighbouring countries.

Notably, the relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

However, their ties nose-dived after India abrogated Article 370 as Pakistan expelled the Indian envoy and downgraded the trade ties.

In 1999, former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan just a few months before the Kargil War began. In the year 2015, PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with Nawaz in Pakistan during a surprise visit to the country. Pakistan’s continuous attempts to infiltrate Indian territory with terrorists have been the reason for unfriendly relations.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks left an unending outrage and pain among Indians. India-Pakistan ties nosedived after the abrogation of Article 370 in the year 2019.

However, the leader said that his party will be part of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Nyay Yatra beginning January 14.

“He is trying to remove the mistrust and hatred between communities. We were part of this effort earlier and we will be part of it again. We were a part of Bharat Jodo Yatra and will be a part of Bharat Nyay Yatra……” he added.

Abdullah also said that he had no expectations from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Jammu and Kashmir visit but hoped that incidents like the civilian deaths in Poonch will not be repeated.

“I have no expectations from his visit. Can he bring back the dead? Does he have that power? But he can do this much that such injustice is not repeated,” Abdullah told reporters in Kulgam, 80 kilometres from Srinagar.

Three civilians were found dead after they were picked up by the Army for questioning following a terrorist ambush on two Army vehicles in Poonch last Thursday that killed four soldiers. (ANI)

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Farooq Abdullah

Elections Not Held In J&K For Six-Seven Years: Farooq

By LokMarg

Questioning why elections have not been conducted in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that the people of Union Territory are also a part of India and justice should be done to them accordingly.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said, “Elections have still not happened in Jammu and Kashmir. It’s been six to seven years. What is the reason? We are also a part of India. We should also get justice.”

Farooq Abdullah further said that after the recent results of the Assembly polls in five states, parties in the INDIA bloc should start working harder in a synchronised manner.

“Defeat and victory keep happening. We should learn from victories and defeats. This defeat will not make a difference to the INDIA alliance. We will have to work harder. We have to work in a synchronised manner. We have a long way to go,” he said.

Earlier today, Farooq Abdullah arrived in Delhi to attend the winter session of Parliament.

Before the commencement of the Parliament session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed reporters and said that the Winter Session of Parliament is a “golden opportunity for opposition parties to do something constructive” and asked them not to vent anger at their defeat in assembly polls inside the House.

“The country has rejected negativity. This is a golden opportunity for my friends in the opposition. We urge and pray for the cooperation of everyone. This time too, the process has been undertaken. Rather than venting out their anger at defeat (in assembly elections), they should take lessons from this defeat, shun the idea of negativity that has been there for the last nine years and approach the session with positivity,” PM Modi said.

He also said that the Parliament, which is the temple of democracy, is essential for public aspiration and to strengthen the foundation of developed India.

The Winter Session of the Parliament began today, a day after results for Assembly elections in four states were declared, with the BJP winning three (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) and Congress ousting the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana.

The Winter session will conclude on December 22. (ANI)

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Kashmiri Activist Unhrc

Kashmiri Female Activist Busts Pak Propaganda At UNHRC

By LokMarg

A female activist from Kashmir valley has shown the mirror to Pakistan and busted its malicious propaganda at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva on Wednesday

Tasleema Akhtar, a socio-political activist, said in her intervention that being a native, she would like to bring forth the stark developmental differences of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir that is JK UT and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).

“While JK UT is bringing transformational changes for the betterment of the region, people of PoJK are living at the mercy of the Pakistan government having utter disregard for people over there and their basic human rights and amenities”, she told the Council.

She said while the Union government was investing in infrastructure and developmental projects in J&K besides bringing peace and prosperity to the region, Pakistan is struggling to meet its basic financial obligations and is shielding terrorist outfits to wage a proxy war against India.

“PoJK lacks even basic infrastructure and amenities, with negligible investment and blatant misappropriation of its resources by Pakistan”, she added.

Tasleema said in terms of education and literacy rate, JK UT is far ahead of PoJK. The government of India spends 9 times more on the education sphere in JK UT compared to its counterpart. PoJK is facing a major crisis in its education sector, lacking basic infrastructure including buildings and roofs, clean water, toilets, etc. causing acute hardships to students, resulting in a severe dropout ratio.

Change is also perceptible in the health sector. People of JK UT are availing health benefits in even the remote areas with national health schemes, which is a distant dream for the people of PoJK. GoI provides the people of Jammu and Kashmir with universal health insurance coverage for up to USD 6,000 per family. However, health facilities in PoJK are abysmal with a lack of even primary hospitals.

Tasleema told the UNHRC that the poverty rate in JK UT is also quite low compared to PoJK. The per capita income of JK UT at around USD 2,500 is also higher when compared to PoJK, where per capita income is around USD 1,000 and USD 250 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

“Tourism influx is also an all-time record high in JK UT with around 20 million tourists arrival so far in 2023 besides successful completion of G-20 Summit meeting in Srinagar on May 22-24, 2024, on the other hand, tourists inflow in PoJK has severely low,” she said.

“Therefore, I would urge the honourable council to take appropriate measures in setting up accountability for the Pakistan government for protecting the basic human rights of the people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” Tasleema told the UN Human Rights Council.

Later, in an interview with ANI, Tasleema also lambasted Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and “playing” with the innocent lives of the Kashmiri people. (ANI)

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Sara Posts Glimpse Of Her Spiritual Trip To Kashmir

By LokMarg

Actor Sara Ali Khan has treated her fans with a glimpse of her spiritual trip to Kashmir.

On Monday, the ‘Gaslight’ actor posted some pictures on Instagram. In the first picture, Sara can be seen offering prayers. She also dropped some videos from the trip.
In one of the videos, she can be seen enjoying herself with children in a tent. In the second video, she can be seen enjoying herself with a little child inside the pool.

Along with the post, she wrote a small note, “Q: Where and How can we find peace? A: Everywhere. Just look within. “

As soon as she shared the post, fans flooded the comment section with heartfelt comments.

Recently, Sara shared a glimpse of her Amarnath Yatra. The video was accompanied by the song ‘Namo Namo’ from her debut movie ‘Kedarnath’. Sharing the video, she wrote, “Jai Baba Barfani.”

Talking about Sara’s work front, she was recently seen with Vicky Kaushal in ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’, which did decent business at the box office.

Her upcoming projects include Anurag Basu’s ‘Metro…In Dino’. Billed as an anthology, the film also features Aditya Roy Kapur, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher, Ali Fazal and Neena Gupta in lead roles.’Metro…In Dino’, a film that apparently draws its title from the famous song ‘In Dino’ from ‘Life in a… Metro’, will showcase bittersweet tales of human relationships based on contemporary times.

She also has ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ and ‘Murder Mubarak’ alongside Karisma Kapoor in her kitty. (ANI)

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